How long can you drive for?

[frugal90]

If you have been given a 90 day visa because you own property, can you own and drive a car, or hire one for that duration. Can't find appropriate link anywhere for this.

[frugal90]

Just found this link which says 3 months which I guess ties in with the tourist visa.



https://www.infonorthcyprus.com/driving-licence

[jofra]

If you have been given a 90 day visa because you own property, ....

In the link, it says "If you remain longer in the TRNC or you have residency on the island you need to apply for a TRNC driving license.
The wording suggests (IMO) that even if you own property but do not have residency (e.g. a 'swallow'), you do not need a TRNC licence - but it hinges on the interpretation of the specific law(s)....
(of course, subject to the 90 day limit).

[oldham]

Correct me if I'm wrong but if you have a trnc motor vehicle then you need to have a trnc driving license, which makes sense to me!

[Laura B]

Oldham. That is exactly as it's been explained to me. If you own/drive a private vehicle you need a TRNC/KKTC driving licence. If a hire vehicle the limit is three months.

[alphamike]

Oldham. That is exactly as it's been explained to me. If you own/drive a private vehicle you need a TRNC/KKTC driving licence. If a hire vehicle the limit is three months.

Now you have opened a can of worms.

I did understand that by owning a private vehicle you need a KKTC driving licence. However, I know nothing of this having to have a KKTC/TRNC licence for driving a private vehicle which is not owned by the person driving.

I am specifically thinking of family/friends coming over here on holiday for a few weeks and driving my car on their UK driving licence. In the past, I have always checked with my insurance company to make sure people were covered, and told they were. Has this changed?

[waddo]

Having been to ask questions re driving at the Girne police station recently, I am told that you can not purchase a vehicle here unless you have residency - don’t shoot the messenger, go ask for yourselves - also you can not drive a TRNC vehicle unless you have a TRNC driving license! I asked because when my family visit I normally lend them my car but apparently that is no longer allowed. My family would now have to rent a hire car, which they can drive on their UK license. I can see that this would probably have an effect on swallows, some of which probably already own TRNC registered vehicles. I think people should enquire about this direct fromboth the police and their insurance vendors as information changes from day to day.

[Laura B]

Yes totally agree with you Waddo. My friends own their car here. He has local driving licence and has applied for residency. His wife has been told that she should not drive the car as she has neither KKTC licence or residency. This all very recently.

[wanderer]

Writing as a swallow never stay 90 days in a year let alone in 180
We imported our car many years ago 2009

Done for speeding on camera 2011 no TRNC licence fine and points on an imaginary licence

We acquired TRNC licences 3 years ago on the way back from Lefkosa we were pulled over for document check
Polis not bothered which licence UK or TRNC

Jan 2020 pulled over document check only wanted TRNC licence
In recent visit document check TRNC licence only required
Monday Esentepe way popular day for document checks

[alphamike]

Having been to ask questions re driving at the Girne police station recently, I am told that you can not purchase a vehicle here unless you have residency - don’t shoot the messenger, go ask for yourselves - also you can not drive a TRNC vehicle unless you have a TRNC driving license! I asked because when my family visit I normally lend them my car but apparently that is no longer allowed. My family would now have to rent a hire car, which they can drive on their UK license. I can see that this would probably have an effect on swallows, some of which probably already own TRNC registered vehicles. I think people should enquire about this direct fromboth the police and their insurance vendors as information changes from day to day.

Thank you. I do understand that owning a vehicle here, you do need a local licence whether you live here, or be part time.
Did not think that family on a holiday, couldn't drive my car. That really is a major thing which affects all of us living here. They are hardly likely to be able to get a local licence on a short family holiday of 2-3 weeks

As an aside to this, and a very possible explanation why things have got to this. I knew an expat who frequently "rented" out one of their cars to folk coming on holiday here, made a tidy sum to pay for the other big car insurance/road tax. They no longer live here, so feel free to tell the tale.

[waddo]

The sad part about the whole thing is that the story will and has changed from week to week and official to official. I have found it more useful to try to rationalise the reasons behind each “change” in the “facts” and have decided that if a new “fact” is brought to life, that is going to cost you more money, then it stands a good chance of being true - lol. I have spent endless hours trying to find actual laws on line, only to find later on that they have changed but not yet been amended. Best bet is to do what you think is right, check what you are doing with your vehicle insurance vendor - get it in print - then take that to the police for verification. Of course to do that takes time and these days of COVID restrictions and lack of any cohesive government at present makes it all a minefield.

[wanderer]

Insurance company will say any driver is insured to drive a car
that is provided the driver has the necessary qualifying licence
If the authorities decide that you need a TRNC licence to drive a non hire car you are uninsured
The implications are that you are driving uninsured without a licence if you allow a relative or friend to drive the car you are aiding and abetting
If the relative or friend use the car without your permission you have the job of convincing the police of that good luck
We are looking at the licence issue from a UK driver perspective there are many other Nationals driving on their licences

The problem in the TRNC is the driving
https://www.kibrisgazetesi.com/kibris/t ... 20115.html

[waddo]

Quite agree. Now try to get, from the insurance company, the details of a "Necessary qualifying license", after all they must know them or they have no way to say that you were not insured?

When you drop your car in for service and it is driven away - on a test or to a different garage - is the driver and therefore the vehicle still insured or not? That is something I have never bothered to ask I must admit.

[Twaddle]

I as a swallow have been stopped a few times over the years driving my own TRNC registered vehicle. My UK licence has on each occasion been accepted without comment.
However, that said, what is the procedure I would need to follow to get a TRNC driving licence?

[Chriswright03]

Thing is if you checked with your Insurance Company you will find that you are not insured. Fact that on a check you are not picked up on it is an indication of how poor some of the checks are.

Simple really fill in an application form and take it to your nearest office wait in a queue and pay your money then go back in a few weeks time to collect it. Need a photo of course. There are people who will do it for you for a reasonable fee which we did the first time. Worth it to save the queuing yourself really.

[Laura B]

Please be aware that NOW to drive a private (non-hire) vehicle you are required to also have a temporary residence permit as well as a local driving licence.

[waddo]

Laura B and notice that on the form for applying for a TRNC license you must also provide your passport complete with current residency permit! Same for renewals, just done mine.

[Laura B]

That's good. Thanks Waddo.

[wanderer]

http://www.vergi.gov.ct.tr/sites/defaul ... Ehl_en.pdf
4.c says passport and valid imigration
30 day stamp 90 day visa stamp is valid immigration I assume

[waddo]

wanderer, good points. Not wishing to argue, just playing devil's advocate here - So you have a 30/90 day stamp in your passport, that will let you buy a local registered vehicle AND get a TRNC driving license! Now, what happens on day 91, stamp has run out, who does the vehicle now belong to because it can't be you anymore - you have no "valid immigration stamp" in your passport", what is more your driving license is now no longer valid because you do not meet the requirements to have one?

When you return again for your second 30/90 days and get a new stamp in your passport does the vehicle now belong to you or has it been "legally" towed away by the police as you can no longer own it when your "stamp" has run out of time? To be legal driving again would you/should you apply for a new driving license as well?

I just love these Catch 22 rules and laws out here, they can take up weeks of trying to figure out by which time they have changed again, and again, and again!

[Twaddle]

So if I cannot own a vehicle or drive it, how come that I have been allowed by the authorities to register two vehicles in my name over the last 10 years as well as tax them yearly and MOT them via government offices without once being told that I am not allowed to do any of that?
How can it be illegal to drive my own TRNC registered vehicle on the road using a UK driving licence when it is legal to drive a TRNC registered vehicle NOT owned by me on a road using a UK driving licence?
Bizarre!

[Chriswright03]

I believe you just answered your own question.

[manyworlds]

Confirmation from my car insurer:

The law here states that anybody can legally own a car of their own over here. As for driving it, providing you have insurance on the car, you (or anybody else with your permission) can legally drive the car. For any period not exceeding 90 days a UK licence is perfectly acceptable for driving the car. However, if you are staying for a period greater than 90 days, you must apply for a TRNC driving licence (you must also apply for Residency if staying longer than 90 days at any one time).

[waddo]

I wonder if your insurer has told the police this - lol?